First Bite
10-05-2005, 04:04 AM
The river had been on a drop and was starting to get that emerald green color we all dream about. My fishing partner and I grabbed our rods and headed down the trail to one of our favorite salmon fishing holes. There were already a dozen anglers scattered along both sides of the bank at the upper end of the long drift with the tailout left wide open. That was okay with us since we knew the deeper tailout section was a perfect holding spot for salmon. We took turns tossing out our golf ball sized glob of eggs and had a couple bites resulting in one slightly bronzed fish landed and released. The water just looked too good to not have more fish present. The night before I had tied up some big, bright salmon marabou jigs and was anxious to give them a try. I tied on the jig and made a quarter cast upstream and watched as my jig disappeared into the green colored water. One quick mend of my line and the float was positioned to run through the deep section of the tailout. Something distracted my attention for a moment and when I looked back at the direction of my float it was nowhere to be found. It took my brain a second to engage. When I realized I had just got bit I came back on my rod only to see a momentary flash under the water and the feel of the fish shaking its head as my line went slack. “That was a bright fish” my Buddy loudly exclaimed. Now we were excited since we knew where there was one fish, there were bound to be more. It wasn’t but a few casts later that I had another bobber down and this time I watched as my float silently slipped underwater. Not wanting a repeat of the first take, I reeled down, felt the weight of the fish and crossed its eyes with a firm hookset. Immediately the fish took off on an initial run that is so typical of Chinook. This baby was headed for the ocean and it took everything I had to keep her from accomplishing just that. After multiple searing runs with a couple close encounters of her leaving the tailout, I could tell she was starting to get tired. Several minutes later with the help of my partner, we netted the mint bright 20-pound hen with the big Owner 3/0 jig hook firmly entrenched in her upper jaw.
Welcome to Tillamook Fall Chinook fishing. These fish are huge, averaging 25 pounds with many pushing the 50-pound mark. It’s no wonder thousands of anglers flock to this area every year in search of trophy size fish. Considered the most prized game fish in North America, the Chinook Salmon can also be one of the hardest fish to hook and land. Tillamook Fall Chinook traditionally start to trickle into the Bay around early September. The biggest single factor of their migration from the Bay to their rivers is the amount of rain. Oregon is known for Indian summers, which can have 80-degree days well into October. This is great weather if you’re fishing in the bay, but if you like fishing flowing rivers with defined riffles and pools, then the first fall storms are a very welcome site. The perfect combination for river fishing is a strong freshet to raise the river at least a couple feet combined with a series of high tides. Once the fish get a smell of fresh water they will transition from the salt and start working their way up their home rivers. The condition of the first run of fish will largely be determined by how much time they’ve spent in tidewater. Usually there will be a mix of darker fish combined with later arriving bright fish. In a perfect world the rivers will raise a few feet and then go on a slow drop before the next freshet. The ideal time to be on the water is the point at which the rivers are just starting to drop into shape.
Terminal Tackle
Fall Chinook are the ultimate tackle busters. You want to come prepared with a stout rod rated between 15-40-pound test line. Your reel should be loaded with at least 30-pound monofilament mainline. A good alternative for mainline is to use a braided line rated at 50-pound test. When jig fishing for Fall Chinook I like to use a sliding set-up identical to what you would use when bobber & egg fishing. Tie on a bobber stop, which is basically a nail knot that can be made with 20-pound Dacron. Thread on a small bead and then run your mainline through a float. I like using a 1 to 2-oz West Coast Float. These floats are practically indestructible and are very easy to see in the water. Under the float I’ll add another small bead and then a second bobber stop. The purpose of the second bobber stop is to prevent losing your float if your mainline happens to break. After the second bobber stop I’ll tie the mainline to an in-line weight matching the size of the float. The in-line weight has a swivel on each end eliminating any line twist. A barrel sinker and swivel can be substituted for the in-line weight. Your leader should be around 24-36 inches long, depending on water height and clarity. These fish are not line shy, so 20 to 25-pound leader material is advised.
Bigger is Better
The most important part of this whole set-up is the jig. When people think of jig fishing they visualize small jigs tied on light line for steelhead fishing. Well, my friends, these Tillamook Chinook fresh from the salt will straighten the hooks on smaller jigs so quick you’ll never even have a chance. This isn’t light line finesse fishing but just the opposite. You need a jig that can hook and hold these brutes and that is why I like to use Owner jig hooks up to size 4/0. In close to fifteen years of jig fishing for Chinook I’ve landed several salmon on smaller steelhead jigs…but I’ve also lost a large percentage of those fish simply because the hook couldn’t hold up to the raw power of these magnificent fish. It was only after switching over to the larger, stronger jig hooks that my hook up to land ratio went through the roof. I would like to mention here that the reason for using heavier line and larger hooks are two fold. First, beefed up gear will increase your chances at landing these fish but second and more important is the fact that some of these fish that take jigs may not be table fare material. By using heavier line you can land and release these darker fish much quicker with minimal stress ensuring they continue the journey to their spawning beds.
Jig Colors
Salmon love big, flashy lures, golf ball size egg clusters and large spinners. The same mentality should be used when it comes to jigs. Think big and bright. One of my most productive salmon jigs is a vibrant four-color marabou jig loaded with Krystal Flash. This jig is meant to be seen in the water and salmon simply devour it. Other favorite colors for jigs are combinations of fuchsia or cerise, hot pink, fluorescent blue, deep purple or blood red. I’ve found that while single colors are effective, a combination of two or more colors seems to work much better.
The Right Presentation
Properly presenting a jig to Chinook is a lot easier then you think. Since Chinook typically won’t move very far to take an offering, you want to get it smack down in front of them. Say, for example you’re fishing eggs under a float using the sliding set-up similar to what I mentioned above. You know fish are present but for whatever reason they’ve gone off the bite. Simply cut off the bait hook and tie on a jig. You already know you’re fishing the right depth since you have been running bait. Now you offer the fish something completely different and sometimes that’s all it takes. When fishing for Chinook, I like to line up my jig immediately after casting. In most cases I’ll overcast my rig intentionally and then after it hits the water, I’ll purposely pull back on the float several seconds until the jig has had a chance to get down directly under the float. By pulling back on the float this in turn will allow the jig to line up in the current. Now you have your jig with the bright, pulsating feathers aimed directly towards the awaiting fish. Maintaining a drag free drift at this point will allow the jig to appear as natural as possible. The resting Chinook will see your offering and curiosity will get the best of them. The closing of their mouths on the jig will in turn pull your float under the water. These delicate takes are quite common and are easily missed by the unwary angler. By using a balanced float set-up, these light takes will turn into a Fish On. If you do happen to miss a light take, make a mental note of where the fish was laying and try running your jig through again. If a Salmon hasn’t been stung by the hook, more likely then not they will strike again. If you’re unable to entice another strike, try switching over to another jig color pattern or simply add a sand shrimp tail to the jig. On the opposite end of the scale is the take that practically wrenches the rod right out of your hand. Sometimes fresh Chinook will downright annihilate the offering leaving no doubt as to their intention. If this happens to you, hang on and enjoy the ride. Jig fishing simply doesn’t get any better.
The Confidence Factor
Having confidence in what you’re using is synonymous with your success. The moment you lose confidence you lose effectiveness. Anglers for the most part are creatures of habit. We tend to stick with what we know has worked in the past. When the fish are plentiful and our favorite lure or bait is working, there is little reason to switch to something different. It’s the slow days when we are likely to try something new. If you find yourself in this situation and decide to try a jig, fish it with confidence knowing that jigs have been catching salmon for years in a variety of diverse situations. When you do catch your first salmon on a jig it will be an eye opening experience that will forever change the way you fish for Chinook.
This article was in a previous issue of Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine and printed here with the permission of the editor.
This mint 25-pound Fall Chinook was caught using a bead salmon jig.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Fall25.jpg
This salmon marabou jig is called "The Quad". It's one of our best producing salmon jigs.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Sep_salmonmarabou1.jpg
This is our Salmon Shrimp Hybrid Jig. It's the latest addition to our salmon jig series.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Salmonshrimphybrid1.jpg
Have fun fishing
Cheers
Mark
Welcome to Tillamook Fall Chinook fishing. These fish are huge, averaging 25 pounds with many pushing the 50-pound mark. It’s no wonder thousands of anglers flock to this area every year in search of trophy size fish. Considered the most prized game fish in North America, the Chinook Salmon can also be one of the hardest fish to hook and land. Tillamook Fall Chinook traditionally start to trickle into the Bay around early September. The biggest single factor of their migration from the Bay to their rivers is the amount of rain. Oregon is known for Indian summers, which can have 80-degree days well into October. This is great weather if you’re fishing in the bay, but if you like fishing flowing rivers with defined riffles and pools, then the first fall storms are a very welcome site. The perfect combination for river fishing is a strong freshet to raise the river at least a couple feet combined with a series of high tides. Once the fish get a smell of fresh water they will transition from the salt and start working their way up their home rivers. The condition of the first run of fish will largely be determined by how much time they’ve spent in tidewater. Usually there will be a mix of darker fish combined with later arriving bright fish. In a perfect world the rivers will raise a few feet and then go on a slow drop before the next freshet. The ideal time to be on the water is the point at which the rivers are just starting to drop into shape.
Terminal Tackle
Fall Chinook are the ultimate tackle busters. You want to come prepared with a stout rod rated between 15-40-pound test line. Your reel should be loaded with at least 30-pound monofilament mainline. A good alternative for mainline is to use a braided line rated at 50-pound test. When jig fishing for Fall Chinook I like to use a sliding set-up identical to what you would use when bobber & egg fishing. Tie on a bobber stop, which is basically a nail knot that can be made with 20-pound Dacron. Thread on a small bead and then run your mainline through a float. I like using a 1 to 2-oz West Coast Float. These floats are practically indestructible and are very easy to see in the water. Under the float I’ll add another small bead and then a second bobber stop. The purpose of the second bobber stop is to prevent losing your float if your mainline happens to break. After the second bobber stop I’ll tie the mainline to an in-line weight matching the size of the float. The in-line weight has a swivel on each end eliminating any line twist. A barrel sinker and swivel can be substituted for the in-line weight. Your leader should be around 24-36 inches long, depending on water height and clarity. These fish are not line shy, so 20 to 25-pound leader material is advised.
Bigger is Better
The most important part of this whole set-up is the jig. When people think of jig fishing they visualize small jigs tied on light line for steelhead fishing. Well, my friends, these Tillamook Chinook fresh from the salt will straighten the hooks on smaller jigs so quick you’ll never even have a chance. This isn’t light line finesse fishing but just the opposite. You need a jig that can hook and hold these brutes and that is why I like to use Owner jig hooks up to size 4/0. In close to fifteen years of jig fishing for Chinook I’ve landed several salmon on smaller steelhead jigs…but I’ve also lost a large percentage of those fish simply because the hook couldn’t hold up to the raw power of these magnificent fish. It was only after switching over to the larger, stronger jig hooks that my hook up to land ratio went through the roof. I would like to mention here that the reason for using heavier line and larger hooks are two fold. First, beefed up gear will increase your chances at landing these fish but second and more important is the fact that some of these fish that take jigs may not be table fare material. By using heavier line you can land and release these darker fish much quicker with minimal stress ensuring they continue the journey to their spawning beds.
Jig Colors
Salmon love big, flashy lures, golf ball size egg clusters and large spinners. The same mentality should be used when it comes to jigs. Think big and bright. One of my most productive salmon jigs is a vibrant four-color marabou jig loaded with Krystal Flash. This jig is meant to be seen in the water and salmon simply devour it. Other favorite colors for jigs are combinations of fuchsia or cerise, hot pink, fluorescent blue, deep purple or blood red. I’ve found that while single colors are effective, a combination of two or more colors seems to work much better.
The Right Presentation
Properly presenting a jig to Chinook is a lot easier then you think. Since Chinook typically won’t move very far to take an offering, you want to get it smack down in front of them. Say, for example you’re fishing eggs under a float using the sliding set-up similar to what I mentioned above. You know fish are present but for whatever reason they’ve gone off the bite. Simply cut off the bait hook and tie on a jig. You already know you’re fishing the right depth since you have been running bait. Now you offer the fish something completely different and sometimes that’s all it takes. When fishing for Chinook, I like to line up my jig immediately after casting. In most cases I’ll overcast my rig intentionally and then after it hits the water, I’ll purposely pull back on the float several seconds until the jig has had a chance to get down directly under the float. By pulling back on the float this in turn will allow the jig to line up in the current. Now you have your jig with the bright, pulsating feathers aimed directly towards the awaiting fish. Maintaining a drag free drift at this point will allow the jig to appear as natural as possible. The resting Chinook will see your offering and curiosity will get the best of them. The closing of their mouths on the jig will in turn pull your float under the water. These delicate takes are quite common and are easily missed by the unwary angler. By using a balanced float set-up, these light takes will turn into a Fish On. If you do happen to miss a light take, make a mental note of where the fish was laying and try running your jig through again. If a Salmon hasn’t been stung by the hook, more likely then not they will strike again. If you’re unable to entice another strike, try switching over to another jig color pattern or simply add a sand shrimp tail to the jig. On the opposite end of the scale is the take that practically wrenches the rod right out of your hand. Sometimes fresh Chinook will downright annihilate the offering leaving no doubt as to their intention. If this happens to you, hang on and enjoy the ride. Jig fishing simply doesn’t get any better.
The Confidence Factor
Having confidence in what you’re using is synonymous with your success. The moment you lose confidence you lose effectiveness. Anglers for the most part are creatures of habit. We tend to stick with what we know has worked in the past. When the fish are plentiful and our favorite lure or bait is working, there is little reason to switch to something different. It’s the slow days when we are likely to try something new. If you find yourself in this situation and decide to try a jig, fish it with confidence knowing that jigs have been catching salmon for years in a variety of diverse situations. When you do catch your first salmon on a jig it will be an eye opening experience that will forever change the way you fish for Chinook.
This article was in a previous issue of Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine and printed here with the permission of the editor.
This mint 25-pound Fall Chinook was caught using a bead salmon jig.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Fall25.jpg
This salmon marabou jig is called "The Quad". It's one of our best producing salmon jigs.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Sep_salmonmarabou1.jpg
This is our Salmon Shrimp Hybrid Jig. It's the latest addition to our salmon jig series.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/Salmonshrimphybrid1.jpg
Have fun fishing
Cheers
Mark